Thanks, Bob, I ended-up recutting the side pockets and lowering the primaries. Because I pieced the cheeks in, I will seal the heads on these low birds wit a couple of coats of warmed epoxy to prevent them from separating...hopefully!

Anyone replace the rheostat on a Detail Master III? Pretty sure this is the issue, per my multi-meter readings.

Pat GregoryIllinois Waterfowler and Decoy MakerDuckboat Page Member since 2006

"And when a flock of bluebills, pitching pondward, tears the dark silk of heaven in one long rending nose-dive, you catch your breath at the sound, but there is nothing to see except stars. This same performance, in daytime, would have to be looked at, shot at, missed, and then hurriedly fitted with an alibi." Aldo Leopold in Sand County Almanac

I need to finish this Greater Yellowlegs by tomorrow afternoon - for a friend's fundraiser. I just put the base coat of finish paint on - and the Mahogany base got slathered with Minwax "Gunstock" oil stain.

The bird is Basswood with a Hickory bill insert and the "leg" is brass rod.

Note that I used bronze boat nails for the eyes - not glass. It hails back to the "tack" and "button" eyes of early stool.

"Life is too short to drink bad beer." Disclaimer: This post and/or report is not a substantiation of or reflection on the true accuracy of the present surveying methods. It is only a report on or comment concerning local observation and/or results. Your results and observation may vary based on your location, local water conditions, food supply, weather conditions and migratory patterns "

Pat GregoryIllinois Waterfowler and Decoy MakerDuckboat Page Member since 2006

"And when a flock of bluebills, pitching pondward, tears the dark silk of heaven in one long rending nose-dive, you catch your breath at the sound, but there is nothing to see except stars. This same performance, in daytime, would have to be looked at, shot at, missed, and then hurriedly fitted with an alibi." Aldo Leopold in Sand County Almanac

New pattern based on an old Jim Wick's scaup head that I ended-up with after his dog chewed the decoy into pieces. I made 38 heads off this in magnum to match 16 of 36 magnum black corks I made and kept. about five years ago. Eighteen more to go.

I am making a mold off this old redhead to do a run o14-15 decoys to fill-out the rig.

Pat GregoryIllinois Waterfowler and Decoy MakerDuckboat Page Member since 2006

"And when a flock of bluebills, pitching pondward, tears the dark silk of heaven in one long rending nose-dive, you catch your breath at the sound, but there is nothing to see except stars. This same performance, in daytime, would have to be looked at, shot at, missed, and then hurriedly fitted with an alibi." Aldo Leopold in Sand County Almanac

Pat, that is an interesting perspective shot of that decoy, or is it two decoys? Your finish sanding work is impressive in itself!

This redhead drake preener was born from a band sawing mistake I made on the head. This head had to have the bill tip shortened, so I decided to finish it and spin it around to become a shoulder imbedded preener. I wanted something that would not take several pounds of lead to balance it out, when floating, so no dropped should and splayed spread primaries. ...and no pattern to work off. I did roll it a bit and angle the tail. I was going to cut a channel into the shoulder for the bill but realized cutting an insert well would work better for sealing and painting. I still have some finish sanding to do prior sealing. I will cut a plug to insert into the bill's "well" to look like tufted feathers